Category: Bugs & Pests

A partly reclaimed view

In my list of Things to Do in the Garden in 2012 I mentioned that I want to prune some trees in order to reclaim a portion of mountain view. In the heat of summer we have managed to get that done and I am happy with the result.

This is a small corner view as seen from one corner of the entertainment area of our back terrace. It’s a place I love to while away a hot summers day either with a good book or good company. It’s a marvellous spot as the air is always full of bird song, its private and peaceful and the views of the garden and surrounds are lovely.

[one_half]Before: Mountain hidden behind trees[/one_half]

[one_half_last]After: Trees tidied and removed[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Now we can see the mountain again[/one_half]

[one_half_last]And … birds on the wire[/one_half_last]

[one_half]In the early evening …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]And a zoomed out view[/one_half_last]

I am happy with the result, I think it looks a whole lot better. I hope you approve!

In other news …the little sunbird that visits me every day almost has all his markings now! (I first wrote about him here when he was a juvenile). Isn’t he gorgeous? He comes every day just after five and does a little show for me in the tree. Then he goes back to the rest of his family who hang out on the other side of the tree, overlooking my neighbour’s garden. It’s been lovely, I’ve watched him mature over the last three weeks.

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags birds, malachite sunbird, sunbird

Bugs & Pests Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Something new for Someone new

Post author By Christine
Post date January 26, 2012
13 Comments on Something new for Someone new

It seems that whenever I add something new, someone new turns up to inspect my garden … A week or so ago when I spotted the little Rooibeksysie (Common Wax-bill) eating the apples in the bird feeder, I asked what I should be doing to attract different and new birds to my garden. One suggestion I got from Clare at Curbstone Valley Farm was to add different fruit and she suggested citrus. Other suggestions included different seeds, more water, other fruits, different feeders and a few other ideas including supplying the birds with nesting materials.

With thanks to everyone for the suggestions, so far I have added another bird feeder – a wooden free standing feeder which I’ve filled with seed, apple and granadilla pulp, (will try some oranges tomorrow) and I added some water bowls (we have bird baths and plenty of moving water in the pond for them in the front garden, but no drinking water in the back shade garden, hence the addition). After finding the adorable baby doves sitting in the shade garden last week I realised they need some water nearer ground level, as those babies would not be able to fly up high to reach the nectar bottle or the water in the bird baths and pond.

Twenty-four hours later I have new bird visitors …

Armed with my new book, “Birds of Southern Africa”, identifying the the new visitors was a breeze. Above is a Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra). It’s a cute 17 cm little bird with a pale orange throat, upper breast and rump and white belly. According to the book its song is a series of melodious phrases, usually starting with ‘cheroo-weet-weet-weeeet’ and also often mimics other birds. It’s a common resident in gardens in the Western Cape.

Below is a Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus), 15cm little bird that nests in bushes or small trees or in a wall or roof cavity. The male has a striking black-and-white head. They like to eat seed, fruit, buds, nectar and insects. The Cape Sparrow is near-endemic and lives in grassland, fields and large gardens (so obviously just “passing through” my back garden).

A few more photos …

[one_half]Cape Robin-chat, first, furtive look around …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cape Robin: “Ok, this looks pretty cool …”[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The Cape Sparrow is not shy at all[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cape Sparrow getting stuck into the food[/one_half_last]

[one_half]New feeder under the big tree[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New water bowls under the tree[/one_half_last]

Tomorrow we’ll try oranges and see who turns up …

Happy gardening
xxx

List of Birds seen in my garden so far
Cape Sparrow
Cape Robin-Chat
Common Red Waxbill'(Rooibeksysie)
Doves, doves & lots more doves
Red-winged Starling
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Hadeda Ibis
Cape White-eye (Witoogie)

Tags baby birds, birds

Barbie's garden Bugs & Pests Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous Perenniels

Heat of the Summer

The heat of the summer days does take its toll on the garden. It is usually 2-3 degrees higher here than in the city of Cape Town. So if my friend, Christine, says its 30 degrees in her garden, than its usually 33 degrees here. A few of my plants are now dropping leaves and flowers – notably the fuchsia, but my neighbour was very surprised to see it still blooming, so it lasted well.

The crickets are out at night and I hear the lonely high-pitched sound of the mating frog. In the hot afternoon, you hear the cicadas and the grasshoppers stake their claim on large green leaves. The sun is high and the air is dry. The garden waits for its daily watering …

[one_half]This grasshopper lives on the corn-stalk[/one_half]

[one_half_last]An old skin shell of a grasshopper[/one_half_last]

[one_half]My grasses are doing well in the heat[/one_half]

[one_half_last]They are now growing and filling the spaces[/one_half_last]

But they do need watering regularly.

[one_half]My Miscanthus growing tall[/one_half]

[one_half_last]But some are feeling the heat[/one_half_last]

In this early morning shot (8am) – it was already 25 degrees

[one_half]The Leopard Trees are strong and resilient[/one_half]

[one_half_last]But everyone needs a drink of water[/one_half_last]

Summertime is for lazy days in the sun and swimming in the cool pool. I know most of our friends are in winter, but I hope that we can spread some sunshine your way.

Happy gardening xxxx

Tags Bugs & Pests, garden, gardening, grasses, plants, trees

Barbie's garden Bugs & Pests Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Prehistoric bug

Well, if the Ghost Mantis was not unusual enough for you – check out this prehistoric looking bug!! I found it on the fig tree – two of them!!! One must be a female (the bigger one). I am busy looking on the internet ….. does anyone have a clue??

[one_half]This one must be the female[/one_half]

[one_half_last]And this one the male[/one_half_last]

This is the female before she let go of the branch and tumbled to the ground. I would imagine this is a safety mechanism. She them scurried away…. the first picture of her. But I managed to get the male to pose for most of the photos ……

[one_half]What an unusual beetle – quite scary looking[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Another angle from the side[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Well camouflaged – strong armour plates[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Looks like he has claimed this fig[/one_half_last]

Could it be a cricket? No, no springy legs…… Well, anyone’s guess is as good as mine.

Looks like I need some help on this one!

Let’s see what tomorrow brings in my BUG-A-BOO ZOO …

Tags exotic beetle

Barbie's garden Bugs & Pests Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Ghost Mantis in my garden

Post author By Barbara
Post date January 22, 2012
24 Comments on Ghost Mantis in my garden

Today was a BIG clean up day in the garden because the heat of summer ebbed a bit! I was pulling out old, woody herbs in the Patio Patch, and was startled to see this AMAZING thing!!! What was it?? Ran to get my camera and macro lens and found out it was an exotic Praying Mantis. Oh my WORD!! I have never seen anything like it before!

Take a look!

I called it the Samurai Mantis! It was so agile and would not stand still for a moment. It was difficult to get these shot, I tell you! It jumped and ran and it was difficult to spot.

[one_third]She is a beautiful specimen[/one_third]

[one_third]Well camouflaged in the thyme[/one_third]

[one_third_last]She is about 4cm in length[/one_third_last]

Now my curiosity was piqued. Onto the Internet and I found very little on these exotic Praying Mantis’. Even Wikipedia had nothing on them – where they originate from etc. All I know is that it is called: Empusa Fasciata – Devil’s Horse – Ghost Mantis.

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

I found out, through the photos on various websites, that this one is a Female Nymph. She looks similar to the Male Nymph, but her antennae are thinner.

[one_half]Here she looks like a Samurai, hey?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Agile and quick – great hunting skills[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Looks a bit like a sea horse[/one_half]

[one_half_last]She now turns her back on us![/one_half_last]

Well, that was the most amazing and WEIRD thing I’ve seen in my garden so far.

Does anyone know or have information on this species of Praying Mantis?

Happy Gardening xxxx

Tags Devil's Horse Mantis. praying mantis, Empusa Fasciata, exotic mantis, ghost mantis

Bugs & Pests Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Gecko and his dinner

I’ve been trying to get a few reasonable photographs of my Geckos to show on the blog. I have always had geckos, and this year there seem to be a lot more than usual around. My geckos only come out at night – they are around during the day but tend to hide under rocks, behind walls and in pots and whatever else they can find to escape from the heat of the day. Can’t say I blame them. Temperatures have been in the range of 38 – 40°C (100.4 – 104°F).

So getting photographs of them is not that easy for me. For starters, I’m a useless photographer at the best of times and second, night-time is particularly challenging for me. So imagine my surprise when my latest attempt at catching a few shots of the friendly terrace gecko turned out to be ok – and I managed to get a shot of the gecko as it went for its prey and then munched on it. I wasn’t aware that was what I had photographed until I was looking at the photos on the computer.

See the bug with the arrow pointing at it?

Now look at what is in the Gecko’s mouth …

Chomping down on the last bits …

What’s for dessert?

Ah ha! There they are …

Bugs for the Gecko … I supply plenty of these

Bon Appetite! I don’t think they actually eat the stink bugs (or do they?), but they sure eat all the moths. There are two of them living on the terrace under this light fitting. They come out every evening as soon as the moths come to the light.

See? A good reason to waste a little bit of electricity. I need to feed my Geckos!

Happy weekend & happy gardening
xxx

Tags Bugs & Pests, gecko

Barbie's garden Bugs & Pests Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Praying Mantis babies have hatched

Post author By Barbara
Post date January 6, 2012
41 Comments on Praying Mantis babies have hatched

Can you remember the post I did on the Praying Mantis laying her egg sac? Well, I nearly stepped on the new-born mantis babies today!! I have taken these close up shots of the egg sac (see how the marauder insects are tackling it!) and the baby manti-do’s! So cute! I could not tell how many have hatched but there were quite a few scurrying around!

[one_half]Hi, I’m Daryll….[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Here’s my other brother Daryll![/one_half_last]

They are literally the size of two ants – thats all. They actually look like ants if you are not careful. Here (above) this one’s on my thumb.

“Run, Forest, run!”….. Shame – he was in a great hurry to get outside! I don’t blame him. The other insects (the ants are the most vicious!) were grabbing hold of the babies. Spiders ready with webs, I tell you! I had a major rescuing mission set out for these little guys – he was the cutest!

Here you can see the individual egg pouches broken open and inside the foamy bread-looking sac there are compartments. Very clever of nature to design this “incubator”. It was foamy when mommy-mantis laid the eggs and is as hard as stale bread now! It is still cemented to the floor (argh! Don’t look at the dust on the tiled floor!) Great design! It was 1 month to the day (6th of December when she laid the egg sac!)

Well I hope you enjoyed the photos and I’ll keep you posted on them if I catch them in my roses!

Happy Gardening xxxxx

PS: Please join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter – we’ll be so happy if you do!

Tags mantis, praying mantis

Bugs & Pests Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

The latest Bug Parade

I thought I had plenty of bugs and slugs and creepy crawlies to show off with when I did this post and then, (were they feeling left out?) a whole new army of bugs moved in …

I took myself off to the book store and came back armed with what I thought was a book about local bugs – alas, it was a British book (yes I know, I’m blonde and not always very bright – my excuse is it was the ONLY “bug” book available at Exclusive and I assumed it would be a local book, plus, I was in a hurry!). So I’m no wiser than I was last time I posted on bugs in my garden.

Here are the latest summer invaders!

[one_half]Sun tanning on the Philodendron[/one_half]

[one_half_last]His buddy perched opposite[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Climbing up the Gloriosa shoot[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Beautiful neon colours[/one_half_last]

[one_half]One of my favourite sights[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Another crawly[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Uh Oh! Whats have we here …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]One of the baddies eating flowers[/one_half_last]

[one_half]So much leaf damage on the Aggies[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Yikes! He was Huge![/one_half_last]

The last one was dragged in by my cat and I let nature take its course – Dexter finished him off. The bad news I guess is that if there is one of these there are probably lots more.

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags Bugs & Pests, stink bug

Barbie's garden Bugs & Pests Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Mantis mommy laying eggs

It was by pure chance I saw this praying mantis mommy laying her eggs in our front doorway! I was on my way out to water the garden and I glanced down. Gee! I nearly stepped on her. She looked up at me and must have called out – “Watch out!” Had I not been mindful, I would have not gone down on my knees to take a closer look.

What a magic sight! Have you ever seen this before? Its like a foamy sponge that goes hard. The eggs must be inside!

I remember when we first moved to this house, we had a praying mantis and watched her laying her egg sac on a pot plant. My hubby fed her flies and she ate until she nearly popped! We monitored the egg sac and then one day, out popped baby mantises! WOW! What a sight to behold! I’ll have to keep you posted on this hatch!

Today is day one … and counting!

Tags praying mantis, praying mantis egg sac

Barbie's garden Bugs & Pests Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Bugs and things

We have suffered through consistent wind for days now – this is the norm for this time of year in Cape Town – and I grow weary of it! I have no joy playing in the garden when the southeaster howls through the town. The wind has a nasty habit of bringing with it flies! I don’t know why! It seems to be a common thing here in Philly! It doesn’t make weather pattern sense – but thats what the townfolk say! The garden was looking parched, so I was out watering the garden this evening and I came across a few bugs and things. Look what the wind blew into my garden. Christine, you have some real beauties! Mine, I hope will match up to yours…

[one_half]My favourite little helper in the garden![/one_half]